I play the trumpet. I also play the piano, guitar, synthesizer, drums, and sing. But there is nothing like the trumpet… miss just a single day’s practice and… oops! Sorry, I can’t hit any of those high notes or sustain them for long. You see, the trumpet just happens to be one of those tiresome instruments that one has to practice every single day. Practice consistently and you’ll be rewarded with beauty of tone and fluency, awe-inspiring to hear. No wonder the trumpet is the most mentioned musical instrument in the Bible! From Genesis to Revelation. But alas the one who misses a day’s practice… not only frustration and impatience arises in the musician when he attempts to resume playing, especially after a long break (almost as if he has to start from scratch all over again!), but he has to endure his next door neighbor’s wrathful glares, too! Needless to say, the longer he stays away from his instrument, the harder it is to return to it.
Our walk with the Lord is like this, too. We need to spend time with Him everyday. When we do, we’re rewarded with delights beyond our limited imaginations – the abundant life Jesus promised. When we don’t… we feel ourselves drift further and further away from our Source of Joy, Peace and Love. Life grows dull and melancholic. Sunny skies turn grey. Isn’t it far better to keep our daily appointments?
